Coupler



Feb, 26, 1929.

w. F. RICHARDS COUPLER Fild Feb. 2, i927 4 sheets-sheet 1 Fesb. 26, 1929.

w. F. RICHARDS COUPLER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 2, 1927 Feb. 26, 1929.

W. F. RICHARDS COUPLBR 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed lfeb. 2, 1927 Feb' 2% 1929. V l A w- F RICHARDS COUPLER Filed Feb. 2, 1927 i 4 Sheets-Shoot 4 Patented Feb.1 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILILARD F. lRICHARDS, or DEPEW, NEW YORK.

coUPLEn.

Application filed. February This invention relates to couplers and, more particularly, to an improved car coupler adapted to interchange with the standard coupl-ei. n

The principal object of my invention, generally considered7 is the provision of a car coupler provided with improved -locking means and knuckle opening mechanism.' n

An object of my invention is the provision of a car coupler provided with a knuckle opener which is vertically pivoted and operated from the. lockinginechanism through a pivoted bell crank lever, whereby saidopener operates easier and under all conditions.

Another object of my invention is the'provision of a car coupler in ywhich the parts are simple in contour and adapted vto be readily constructed and placed in position in the asf sociatedcoupler head.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a coupler provided with an improved locking mechanism involving a guide bleek and a locking block pivotally connected together preferably by an integral forwardly extending tapered stud on the guide block passing through the locking block, said locking block .being eccentrically mounted on id stud, where it is adapted to swing sideways to a ledge formed on the'correspending wall'of the coupler .head for holding said block in lock-set position.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a coupler with improved locking mechanism involving a guide block mounted in a pocket in the associated coupler head., said pocket being formed with guidin ribs or flanges on side walls thereof and with a lug on the bot-tom wall for engaging a corresponding downward extension on the guide for limiting movement of the same.

An additional object of inyinvention is the provision of a car coupler involving'iinproved knuckle opening mechanism, said mechanism preferably comprising a verti-` cally pivoted knuckle opener with a lever ex# `tending int-o engagement with the tail of the knuckle for opening the same', said opener also involving a. hubintegrally connecting said lever to an arm thereabove and a bell crank lever mounted on a horizontal pivot pin above said arm and formed with one une of its ends engaging the arm on the opener and the other engaged by the lock guide of the coupleriwhereby, when said guide is raised, `the bell crank lever is actuated to PATENT g oFFicE.

, HHSS 2, 1927. serial No. 165,329.

move, in its turn, the lknuckle opener, the horizontal pivot pin of the bell crank lever being formed with a head normally overlying the head of the corresponding pivot pin of the knuckle `opener for holding said latter pin in place7 said bell crank lever pin being yprevented yfrom undesired removal by providing prongs on the end thereof and eX- panding said prongsafterinsertion.

A. further object of my invention is the provision of an improved car coupler involving a lock block which is wi-der atits lower portion and the adjacent wall of the head is correspondingly inclinedv whereby creeping of thelock is prevented, said lock being eccentrically mounted Yso that it tends'to swing to a lock-set position into engagement with a ledge yin the wall of the head, the tail of y the knuckle being formed with a raised portion forunseating said locking block from lock-set position during inward and outward movement of the knuckle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating tothe particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is ldefined by the l appended claims:

Figure 1 1s al plan of one embodiment of my improved form'of coupler, shownpartly in section on the line l--l of Figure 3, the parts being shown with the knuckle in locked or closed position.

Figure la is a. sectional fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of Figure l with the bell `crank lever and pivot pin therefor removed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on ther line 2 2 of Figure llooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional'view corresponding lto Figure 2 with the knuckle and locking i g euch embodiment of my invention in which the lock ie adapted ier actuation 'from below instead or from above.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional. View on tlie line S--S of Fien-re 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 a 'liront elevational View, purely in Section, illustratingY a form of coupler einloodying my invention but provide-d with mechanism Yfor operating;` tlie same from tlie side ratlwr -ilmn from tbe 'top or netcom .of vtbe coupler.

llignre l() an elevational View of lelie ernbodii'i'ient elionn in Figure 9 lookinrl 'from the left.

llignre ll is a fragmentary Sectional View on 'tlie line 1li-ll, oit llligure looking .in tlie direction of Athe a-rvrowe.

lxeferr'inigto the drawiiue in detail7 like parte being designa-lied by like reference characters, and first coni-.sideline tlie embodiment of my inrentmn illuetrated in Figures l to G, inclusi-Vc, l lia'ie eliown a coupler l, particularly yadapted -lor railway cars, said coupler comprising; a head if?, and a knuckle 5l, Said lknuckler in `the present embodiment, be- Y used in a Standard coupler. The knuckle 3 is formed with a normally vertical 1apcrtu-re l receiving a pivot pin or pintle 5, which may be of standard construction, extending through registering apertures 6 in hinging ears 7 and 8 of tlie liead. The knuckle is provided with a tail wliicli is received :in a pocket l in 'the coupler head 2.

The locking mechanism for the knuckle 3, in the presen-t embodiment, compriees a lock guide or guiee block ll. which is operated upwardly land downwardly through a liftingn link l2 connected thereto tln'ougli the interengaging eyes Shown and adapted for connection `with an uncoupling device of any uf'rual or d ired character. 'Lllie upper portion ci tlie link l2 paseos tlirol-igli an opening` 13 in tbe ton wall oi lille coupler liead f2. rllie lorlrii-igg .gu-ide ll is restrained in its ap- ]n-oxi-mu-fielyrertical i-novement by tbe prop i afa riolen ol a ilangfe or rib 14 along tlle eide thereof preferably adjacent tbe guard :Vrin

,eide er Lilie liead. lie rib or flange ll preferably flifta in a groove "i in Vthe corresnoiuling wall ol the liend, said lgroove bei-ngi', in the }')re:;cnt einbodiiuent.y for-mcd 'by :i rib or 4'Hang/c lll prorided along the guard arni :side wall of tlie lock curity in tlie bead 'lorwarfllv or tlie bead tor accurately guifling said block ii)wardly and downwardly. The Alock lo cor resiliondingly guided on the knuckle side ol the'head by the corresnliondi-nfg wall of the 'leek cai/"ity, although, :is will be more fully explained hereinar't r, said lguide is normally urged toward the guard.' arin eide of che cav-4 ity;

Pivotally connected to the guide block l1 is ille leek block 20, the menne for connection, in the present embodimenta comnrising an integgjral stud 2l nmonding; forwardly from :tlie front lince of 'the lock Lguide ll through the lock block Q() and prevented from undevaired Separation therefrom by a Cotter 22 e2;-

a eize and shape to corresnond witfli that of.

'die nintle 2l. 'ilflic lock'block ill-ustrared moet clearly in Figures; fland @,Vis eccentrically mounted so tliat it "rends 'to owing toward the guard arm eide of 'lie bead f2. *Vlie-,n raised tlirc gli tlie nncoupling ineclfianism lio Vthe position illnerel'od in Figure f3, 'it takes a lockf position by Swinging counter-cl ckwise until tl e lower rigrli 4-r-.and corner tliereoi" enga e on the shoulder or ledge 25 on the giiiard aim wall Velle lock caviy. That porrion or the guard arin or the lock eavityyaboyerlie shon'lderorle' if i' erably omitted for a sliolrt dieeance` as indicated at 26 and 'then tapered or formed -witli a elonin inner surface 27 to correspond with the slope or the adjacent side wall of 'the lock yblock 2() when in lock-eet position, as shown moet clearly in Figure f5.'

In addition to lthe Side .or ribs on die lock cavity for @riding` the loc.' guide 1l, tflielonf'er uff-ll or 'floor of e il cavity is preferably formed with lan ups't ding`- lug; gr

as; inquenily occurs in switching cervice. rillie took block 2O lnivotally aeeociated -t-lierewitli i remi-ably torined with a *forward extension i323 on .lie knuckle eide liliereo'l. t-lie ront 'lli el! said extension preferably being flush with ille end of fue stud ill., ofllerelw Said sind is :from inijury sind tbe 'forward gior lion oi' llio lock L* lblock e a mene nearly linut surlice 'lo i'lie ironti-i'all el the lock rarity. YAn additional lli lvv Hin x 'L C'. y '39 I I l L w w* "l y inc cui .non of) in lo (meint in owibalancine' the lock 1l`lock nd urge the saine toward For onenim`V-I elle knuckle f have prorided a knuckle opener 35, seid opener, in the present embodiment, involving a hub portion 36 formed with a nor nally Vertical ,openiing` '87 #therethrough receiving a pivot Apin or n ion pcrrornied.

il positioned forwardly of 'die guide lol Yck 1l n .r'itn its rear surface 30 beyelled orsloped to pintle 88 extending between a correspondingly apertured hub 39 rising from the'bottom wall 28 of the head and 'a flange or 'eb 40 overlying the top of the hub portion `39. From the lower portion of the hub 36, a knuckle opening lever or kicker 41 extends and is received, when not in active position, in a corresponding groove 42 in the adjacent wall of the head lt will be appreciated per part thereof with an actuating arm or extension 43, said arm preferably extending horizontally but being angularly disposed with respect to the kie-,ker arm 41 in general. For transmitting motion between the guide block 11 and the opener 35 and more particularly the arm 43 thereof, a bell crank lever or:

pivoted member 44 is provided, vsaid member having angularly disposed arms 45 and 4G, the former of which engages the arm 43 of the knuckle opener and the latter of which fits into a recess 47 in the guide block 11 for actuation from said guide block upon the same bey ing raised. The bell crank lever 44is preferably pivotally mounted fith respect to the head 2 by having a substantially horizontal pivot pin 48 extending through a central vor hub portion 49 rthereof and through corresponding registering apertures in the transversely extending walls 50 of the head disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said bell crank lever 44. In order to avoid the necessity of a cotter or .other similar means for preventing undesired removal or loss ofthe pivot pin 48, the rearwardly disposed end thereof is headed as indicated at 51 and the forward end is bifurcated providing prongs 52 which are spread apart after assembly of the parts.V

No cotter or other similar securing means is necessary for the pivot pin 3S' because the head 51 of the pin 4S overlies the head of the nin 238 and prevents undesireo removal or loss Upon referringij particularl;r to Figure 4, it will be vseen that the vtail c heknuckle 9, which is heldin locked position by the lock block 20, presents a. substantially vertical or upright face 53 thereto. In order to prevent creeping of the look block, the same is preferably formed wider at the lower portion thereofand the wall of the lock cavity, at the guard arm side of the head, is correspondingly inclined vas indicated at 54. In order to urge the guide block 11 toward the guard Aarm side of the head, whereby it is more accurately the head 2a."

guided by the engagement between the flanges 14 and 16 and the lock block closely posi-` tioned against the guard arm wall 54, the surface of r the extension 32, toward the knuckle side of the guard arm, is preferably bev'elled or inclined as indicated at 55 and the floor portion 28 of the head 2 is provided with a'correspondinglyinclined upward extension se. Y c c ln order to provide for the releasing of the lock block 20 from Vlock-set position, the tail of the knuckle 3 is preferably formed with a raised portion 57 which lengages the lower portion of thev lock block 2O upon either opening or closing movement of the knuckle and revolves the same clockwise about the studQl, thereby permitting the same to drop to locked position. The reason for this will be ap-v parent upon considering Figure 6 as the tilting upwardly of the lower left-hand corner of the lock block '20 withdraws the lower right-hand corner of said block from the ledge 25 at the guard arm side of the head. A

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, fragmentary portions of a coupler 1a are'there disclosed which may be substantially identical with the coupler 1 of the previous `embodiment except that bottom operating mechanism is provided rather than top operating mechanism. For this purpose, thel bottom wall or floor 28 of the head 2a is formed with an aperture 58 receiving a lock lifter 59 piv- `otallyconnected to the intermediate portion of a lifter lever 60 by means of a rivet or other pivot means 61. The forward portion of the lever 60 is shown pivoted with respect Vto a downward extension 62 from the bottom. of The inner or lower end 63v of the lifter lever 60 is preferably apertured as indicated at 64 for connection `with any usual or desired form of bottom operating unconpling device. The upper end of the lock lifter 59 is preferably formed with transverse extensions or ,trunn'ions 65 which engage in a corresponding cavity 66 in the lock guide 11a for the purpose of raising and lowering the same as desired. EXcep'tas specifically described in connection with this v embodiy ment, the construction and operation thereof may be identical with that of the first embodi- 'ment Vleferring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 11. in-

clusive, a coupler 1b is there disclosed which is adapted for operation from the side and, more particularly, from the knuckle side of y' the head 2b. For that purpose, a lock lifter 67 is provided, the upper end fof which is preferably formed with a rearwardextension or trunnion 68 engaging in a corresponding aperture 69 in the lower portion of the guide block 11". The lower end yofthe lifter 67 is preferably pivoted to the lower end 7 O of a preferably bent lever 71, the inlll) 6. ln combination, a coupler head formed with a pocket for receiving locking means, a swinging knuckle, a locking device for the knuckle comprising a guide block, the rear surface of said guide block engaging the rear Wall of the pocket in the head, said rear Wall being formed With upright ribs disposedv therealong for guiding said guide block during upward and downward movement thereof, pivotal means extending from said guide block, a locking block mounted thereon, and

means actuated by said guide block 'for opening said knuckle.

7. In combination, a coupler head, said head being itforined with a pocket 'for receivin locking means, a swinging knuckle, a locking device for said knuckle comprising a guide block, the walls ot said pocket, adjacent said guide block, being formed With guiding ribs thereon whereby said block is guided betvveen one of said Walls and a rib on said opposite wall and by ribs on the eonnectingfWa-ll therebetween, a pintle extending torivardly from` said guide block, a locking block pivoted thereon and adapted, when in lowered position, to lock the knuckle and, when in raised position, to release said knuckle, and means for raising and lowering said guide block and connected locking block.`

8. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking device 'for said knuckle' actuating portion extending troni said hubv above said lever l'or operating said lever through the movement of the guide block.l

'10. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle having a tail extending` into said head, a knuckle opener comprising a vertically pivoted hub with a lever extending therefrom into engagement Withthe tail of the knuckle, an actuating lever extending from said hub above said vknuckleopener lever and means extending from said actuat-V ing lever to said guide block for transmitting motion from said block yto open the knuckle.

11. n combination, a coupler head, vaV

swinging knuckle, a locking device for the knuckle comprising a guide block, a bell crank lever pivoted ,in said head and engaged by v said guide block on upward movement thereof and a device pivoted in saidhead and aetuated by said bell crank lever to open said knuckle. n

l2. ln combination, a coupler head, a

isvxiiiein(Y knuckle a lockino device for the knuckle comprising` a guide block, a longitudinal extension on thel bottom of said guide block, `a lug 'torn ed on the bottomof ythe pocket, adjacent said extension, to hold saidguide block from 'forward movement, a locking block pivotally mounted `with respect to saidguide block and means actuated by said guide block tor opening said knuckle.

13( In coi'nbination,V a coupler head, a sivin g knuckle, a locking device or said kniic `le comprising a guide block, yalocking block pivotally mounted with respect to said guide block and `l'lared downwardly, the correspondingn'all ot the head being inclined to engage said locking' block and prevent `creeping thereof, and means actuated by said guide block i'or operating said knuckle.

v lll. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted With respect thereto and having a tail extending into said head, a locking device for said knucklecom-y prising a guide block, a locking block, a stud extending l'orwardly from the front face of ysaid block pivoted on said stud eccentrically Witlirespect to said guide block so as to swing toward a side Wall ot said head, said Wall beprovided with a ledge on which said lockv ing block rests in lock-set position, the tail of said knuckle being formed with a raised portion which engages said locking block during inward and outward movement of the knuckle to unseat said block `from the ledge.

15. ln combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted With respect to said head and 'formed With a tail extending thereima lockingl device for the knuckle comprising a guidel block, a knuckle opener comprising a hub formed With a normally vertical aperture therethrough, a pivot pin vextending through said aperture and adjacent port-ions of the head for pivotally mounting' said opener, a lever extending ioin said hub for operating said knuckle, `an arm extending ics from said hub above said lever, another lever provided with a plurality of angularly disposed arins positioned above said hub with one of its arms adapted to engage the arm ot the knuckle opener and the other of its arms adapted to be engaged by tlieguide block for. voperating said opener,` pivotal meansk extending through said last men-l tionedlever tor mounting the saine in the head, said pivotal means comprising a pin formed With a head overlying the-head of the pivotalmeans for the knuckle opener `for holding the same in place. ln testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

` WILLARD ii. RICHARDS. 

